In their first Southwest Conference match of the season, the Cerritos College wrestling team dropped a 26-16 match against host Palomar College on Wednesday. With the setback, the Falcons dropped to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference, while the Comets improved to 7-2 and 1-0. Cerritos will now travel to Santa Ana College next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in another conference match.

With the match starting at 157 pounds, Cerritos dropped four of the first six matches, with only sophomore Tyree Cox (Lancaster HS), a 10-6 winner over Chris Bascon at 174 pounds and freshman 285-pound Weston Hawkins (Edison HS), who pinned John Castle in 4:27, picking up wins.

But one of the factors in their loss was that four of their losses on the night were by major decision. On a positive note, 125-pound freshman Gabe Ballesteros (Mesa, AZ HS) was able to defeat top-rated Kyle Vexler, 7-2, while sophomore Joshua Ewing (Mesa, AZ) earned a 16-6 major decision over John Joseph and 141 pounds.

125 Pounds - Gabe Ballesteros (CERR) def. Kyle Vexler (PAL), 7-2
133 Pounds - Emilio Rivera (PAL) won by technical fall over Dalton Foster (CERR), 17-1
141 Pounds - Joshua Ewing (CERR) won by major decision over Josh Joseph (PAL), 16-6
149 Pounds - Jacob Dunning (PAL) won by major decision over Eddie Rogers (CERR), 12-4
157 Pounds - Shervin Iraniha (PAL) pinned Yuuki Murai (CERR), 4:26
165 Pounds - Michael Joseph (PAL) won by major decision over Dylan Clarke (CERR), 17-7
174 Pounds - Tyree Cox (CERR) def. Chris Bascon (PAL), 10-6
184 Pounds - Augue Desantis (PAL) win by major decision over Kyle Pivovaroff (CERR), 9-1
197 Pounds - Matt Reed (PAL) def. Tyler Smith (CERR), 2-1
285 Pounds - Weston Hawkins (CERR) pinned John Castle (PAL), 4:27